Tools for playing video on a site

Bloke · 2011-09-19 14:03:37

If I want to play an mp4 or FLV on a web page, what are my best options? Doesn’t have to be a Txp plugin (though cool if it was), I’m just after some player that I can embed on the page and provide a URL — possibly via /file_download or maybe from a direct download URL on the cloud. The files I want to play are seekable so I need the software to offer that likewise. And the software needs to be free, preferably Open Source. I don’t mind on-screen links to the owner’s site etc.

I’ve looked at a few like JWPlayer but it’s not free. I’ve used AnyFlvPlayer in the past which is OK but I’m not sure it supports mp4 and, from memory, it was a little awkward to set up. I’ve also found VideoJS which claims to be all HTML5 and newfangled and stuff. Anyone tried it? Liked it? Does it work well cross browser (old IE versions notwithstanding, of course)?

Any other tools I should look at? In short, what are you cool cats using these days to play video? Thanks for any pointers.

RedFox · 2011-09-19 14:25:34

@Bloke … I don’t know if this is exactly what you’re looking for but these are the players I’m using lately … I’m still investigating if they are OK too > longtailvideo and html5media

Last edited by RedFox (2011-09-19 14:26:59)

Bloke · 2011-09-19 14:39:23

Thanks for the links. I didn’t consider JWPlayer simply because the small print said “I agree to the non-commercial license” and this is a commercial site. Might have missed something since I confess I didn’t read the fine print.

The other one is interesting. Looks nice and simple. I assume I’ll need to be using an HTML5 doctype to benefit? If so I might change the current XHTML 1.1 doctype and hope the validator doesn’t complain too heavily about self-closing tags :-)

EDIT: I have a love-hate relationship with the W3C validator and HTML 5 since it always complains about facbeook meta tags being invalid (as they require an xml namespace) and also the fact that rel="home" isn’t valid… at least while the W3C flip-flop between allowing it and disallowing its use in the spec *sigh*

Last edited by Bloke (2011-09-19 14:42:31)

Algaris · 2011-09-19 15:15:59

I’ve used video JS on websites it the past. It’s a little fiddly to setup what with all the code pointing to different files but when you get it working it takes care of pointing browsers to the your video files or using Flash as a fall back.

Ideally to use it you’ll need mp4 and ogg files. Video JS handles the Flash fallback for you so you shouldn’t need to upload an flv file. By the way did you know there’s a Textpattern plugin for?

http://forum.textpattern.com/viewtopic.php?id=34803

wornout · 2011-09-19 16:02:15

VideoJS works fine for me. myShell by Fanani Tende
There’s also a plugin fot Textpattern jnz_videojs

Bloke · 2011-09-19 16:10:39

Thanks for the tips. I’ve gone with HTML5media for now.

I tried jnz_videojs and got a slew of plugin warnings, and it wouldn’t play the video, depsite moving it to a web-accessible location without htaccess control. Probably something stupid on my part. Since I don’t intend to serve mulitple mobile copies and the plugin assumes this is the setup it doesn’t quite fit my needs. However, depending on the outcome of my testing with html5media, if I find that videojs works better I might try that raw instead and / or persevere with the jnz_ plugin.

Thanks for your hints n tips so far. Any more, keep ‘em coming: I’m always looking for good players so this could prove a useful resource in future.

Last edited by Bloke (2011-09-19 16:11:26)

Algaris · 2011-09-20 08:14:26

I have to admit I noticed that as well. The jnz_plugin does seem to take some fiddling around to get it working (I still haven’t got it fully functioning in all browsers yet), but at least it means you don’t have to use reams of code to output one video. I did notice that there appears to be an issue with the javascript in the plugin which is only an problem with IE.

Algaris · 2011-09-20 09:30:16

I’ve just looked at html5media and wow, talk about simplicity. I think I’ll ditch video js and jnz_videojs for this. It’ll be less of a headache to maintain.

Bloke · 2011-09-20 09:47:40

Algaris wrote:

I’ve just looked at html5media and wow, talk about simplicity.

Yes, I was impressed. One js script link and one HTML 5 <video> tag. Game over. Many thanks, RedFox.

I swapped the doctype to HTML 5 anyway and the only complaints from the validator — as expected — are the FB / rel=“home” ones I mentioned earlier. Guess the validator will have to be ignored until Facebook sort their API out and/or the W3C eventually ratify the spec…

RedFox · 2011-12-01 12:15:56

Stef, are you there? Because I need some help. From anybody of course. I suppose you worked with html5media and that it shines in all (your) main browsers (Win or Mac) … :))

Well here it does beautifully in Safari (Mac) and Firefox (Mac) … but in Chrome (Mac) the video loads and plays but doesn’t get the same dimensions as it does in Safari and FF … !?

I do have troubles with most of the browsers in Windows XP too … but first things first … ;-)

The code:

<video poster="movies/MarijeVijselaar_Harpiste.jpg" width="450" height="247" controls preload> 
    <source src="movies/PromoMarije_reeditforexport.mp4"></source> 
    <source src="movies/PromoMarije_reeditforexport.webm"></source>
    <source src="movies/PromoMarije_reeditforexport.theora.ogv"></source>
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>

The site (in progress) > www.marijevijselaar.nl/txp

I’ve done nothing with CSS … so what’s up here … and can it be fixed? The video itself (.mp4) is 1048 × 576px.

[edit]
Not html5video but html5media … sorry!

Last edited by RedFox (2011-12-01 22:28:11)

sacripant · 2011-12-01 12:39:14

popcorn-js by Mozilla
A an HTML5 media framework written in JavaScript.

tye · 2011-12-01 21:57:50

Flowplayer Commercial use is allowed.

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#1 2011-09-19 14:03:37

Tools for playing video on a site

#2 2011-09-19 14:25:34

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#3 2011-09-19 14:39:23

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#4 2011-09-19 15:15:59

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#5 2011-09-19 16:02:15

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#6 2011-09-19 16:10:39

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#7 2011-09-20 08:14:26

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#8 2011-09-20 09:30:16

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#9 2011-09-20 09:47:40

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#10 2011-12-01 12:15:56

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#11 2011-12-01 12:39:14

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

#12 2011-12-01 21:57:50

Re: Tools for playing video on a site

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